British Veteran Completes 28-Year, 30,000-Mile Journey Around the World

A British Army veteran has completed a 28-year journey around the world, a trek of over 30,000 miles across four continents that began in 1998. Karl Bushby, 57, concluded the expedition by swimming the English Channel from France to England, arriving at Shakespeare Beach near Dover on October 5. He now has approximately 250 miles remaining to walk before reuniting with his mother, whom he has not seen in 11 years.

Bushby set out from Chile with two self-imposed rules: he would not use any form of transportation, including planes, trains, boats, or cars, and he would not return home to Hull until the journey was finished. His route took him the length of South America, through North America, and across the Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia. Along the way, he traversed the Darién Gap between Panama and Colombia and, in 2006, crossed the frozen Bering Strait on foot with Dimitri Kieffer. More recently, he swam approximately 184 miles across the Caspian Sea before continuing toward Europe.

The final leg of his journey to England was a swim of about 20 hours over three days. Bushby recounted initial doubts about his ability to complete the Channel crossing, noting cramping and pain. "Getting in the water that first day, I thought, ‘Have I taken too much of a bite here?'" Bushby told the BBC. "But you dig deep. Keep on keeping on. You find a rhythm."

His expedition faced numerous delays over the nearly three decades, including visa restrictions, the loss of sponsors during the 2008 financial crisis, COVID-19 lockdowns, and geopolitical challenges. Bushby began his journey with only $500 and no initial sponsors, funding his travels through book sales, speaking engagements, donations, and corporate sponsorships. A documentary production company also provided support for the last 16 years.

Bushby had initially hoped to cross into England via the Channel Tunnel's service tunnel, but his request was denied due to safety and maintenance concerns, leading him to opt for the swim. During the Channel crossing, he found solace in observing the night sky. "You're far away from light pollution and have the whole night sky in front of you," he said. "It gave me something to think about and took my mind off the pain and aches. It was amazing."

The last segment of his journey will lead him to his mother in Hull, a port city he last saw 28 years ago. He expects to arrive in early November. "I walked away from that place 28 years ago and that is where we are going to wrap it up," he stated. "That's about 400 kilometers from here, so I've got to get busy."